Real Madrid News
Fringe Real Madrid midfielder has impressed Ancelotti with his dedication
Dani Ceballos has had a difficult five-year stint at Real Madrid. Signed as one of the most promising young midfielders in 2017, the Real Betis academy graduate never really got going at the Santiago Bernabeu.
After struggling for game-time in his first two seasons at the club, Ceballos moved to England, joining Arsenal on loan. The 25-year-old spent two years at the Emirates Stadium but did not have the best of times there either, despite showing some glimpses of his potential.
Back at Real Madrid at the end of the season, Ceballos was linked with an exit last summer. But an injury at the Olympics meant that there was no transfer away and he was sidelined for the entirety of the first half of the season.
The ex-Real Betis star returned to action in January but was hardly used by Carlo Ancelotti on a regular basis. But, when given his first starting opportunity against Osasuna on Wednesday, Ceballos made the most of his chance.
The Spaniard put in a starring display in midfield alongside Eduardo Camavinga as Real Madrid secured a vital victory to inch closer to the La Liga crown.
Speaking after the game, Ancelotti was full of praise for his midfielder, saying: “He played a very good game, he may well have been the best in the team. He has a lot of quality.
“He has suffered a lot. He has had a season with a lot of problems at the start. In the Olympic Games, he had a slow recovery. The Ceballos everyone knows played.”
Now, a report from MARCA (h/t Madrid Xtra) claims that the game against Osasuna was not the only instance that Ceballos has impressed Ancelotti.
It is claimed that the 25-year-old has been constantly making a positive impression on the manager through his work ethic and dedication during the day-to-day training. The report states that not only Ancelotti but the rest of the Real Madrid squad has been impressed by him.
Ceballos is reportedly the first to arrive for training and the last to leave. He has knuckled down and worked hard in training despite being sparsely used by the manager, all of which has created an air of positivity around him.
Wednesday’s performance against Osasuna showed that Ceballos can still have a key role to play for Madrid in the future, considering that he is just 25 years old. However, whether Los Blancos decide to keep hold of him or cash in on him in the summer remains to be seen.
The current edition of the Real Madrid squad is full of young talents, who have shown remarkable potential in recent years.
Arda Guler is among the young players looking to make a mark in European football in the years to come.
The young Turk joined Real Madrid earlier this summer, rejecting many other European giants in the process.
Toni Kroos mentoring Guler at Real Madrid
Guler has not enjoyed the best of starts to his life at Santiago Bernabeu, as he is spending a brief time on the sidelines due to an injury.
However, Guler has not stopped working on his characteristics, as he looks to kickstart his Real Madrid career on a positive note.
To that end, the former Fenerbahce starlet is receiving some key support from one of Real Madrid’s midfield pillars in the form of Toni Kroos.
This is according to MARCA, which suggests that the German international is mentoring Guler in his early days at Santiago Bernabeu.
Kroos: huge ‘sponsor’ of Guler
The report highlights how Toni Kroos is a huge admirer of Arda Guler. The German had even heaped praise on the youngster from Turkey when he joined the club earlier in the summer.
Guler, therefore, is closely training with Kroos, whose years of experience, composure, and knowledge of football, could help the youngster grow at Santiago Bernabeu.
This fits in well with Carlo Ancelotti’s vision at Real Madrid, as the Italian boss wants youngsters to have room to grow, especially with guidance from some of the older guards in the team.
It is one of the key reasons Real Madrid wanted to stick to Kroos and Luka Modric, despite bringing in Arda Guler and Jude Bellingham in the summer.
Guler, therefore, has the stage set for him to start his Real Madrid career on a strong note. After impressing in training, the next step for the youngster is to make a promising debut, which is just around the corner.
